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He Xuan wakes up warm.
He wakes up warm and it's unusual - but that's not all.
He blinks awake in a room he's familiar with by now, a room decorated with far too much red and with shimmering silver butterflies resting on the furniture, their wings opening and closing in slow motions. It's mesmerizing to watch.
He Xuan's sleepy attention is pulled away from the butterflies, focusing on Xie Lian instead. The god is curled into his side, face tucked into the crook of He Xuan's neck where his even breathing fans warmly over He Xuan's cool skin.
This part is still new. He Xuan isn't used to the feeling that rises in his chest at the sight; he's not used to feeling so content . But he is content right now: here in this bed that's too large for one, still too large for two but just right for three.
He's content to listen to Xie Lian's breathing and the steady rhythm of his heart.
His eyes follow the line of Xie Lian's body under the sheets. He'd learned quickly that Xie Lian moves around a lot in his sleep, only ever still when Hua Cheng has him wrapped up in his embrace. It seems today, Hua Cheng has left a little earlier and thus, Xie Lian has kicked his legs free of the blanket.
He Xuan's eyes are fixed on one bare calf, pale amidst the crimson red colour of the sheets. He watches as a hand with slender fingers and nails painted black trails over the exposed, smooth skin, closely followed by a smiling mouth. Hua Cheng's lips should be cool, for he is just as dead as He Xuan but from experience, He Xuan knows now that the kisses that are left along Xie Lian's leg are scorching.
"Good morning," Hua Cheng greets him without really stopping what he's doing. He reaches Xie Lian's knees and the god twitches a little, burrowing deeper into He Xuan's side.
"Don't wake him," He Xuan says quietly. From the way Xie Lian's heartbeat is picking up, he can tell that he'll wake up soon but still , it feels like sacrilege to disturb the quiet atmosphere that has fallen over their bedroom.
Hua Cheng leaves one last kiss and then straightens, sauntering over to He Xuan's side of the bed. The silver bells on his boots, their gentle chiming a sound that installs terror within any creature that is unfortunate enough to hear it, are silent for once. There's no need for them right now.
If anyone had told He Xuan that one day he'd be content and at peace while in close proximity with another ghost king and a god , he would've killed that person. He would've annihilated a bloodline for such daring words.
But it is reality now and he's quite okay with it. He's at ease with the way Hua Cheng sits down on his side and bends down to kiss him, brief and with a hint of teeth that would draw blood if their hearts were still beating.
"Where are you going," He Xuan asks when they part, because Hua Cheng is dressed up to leave . He's wrapped in crimson and silver, truly the picture of the nightmare of Heaven and He Xuan feels a flare of hunger at the sight. It's not new. (He knows now to call it desire and he feels daring enough to embrace the notion. He has proof that Hua Cheng feels the same kind of hunger for him too.)
Hua Cheng casts a look full of longing towards their sleeping husband. Evidently he regrets whatever it is that will keep him away for a while. He reaches over He Xuan and trails his fingers through Xie Lian's long, dark hair. The red string on his hand brilliantly contrasts with his snow white skin.
"A troublemaker at the Gambler's Den," he answers. His expression turns dark, turns into the quiet, terrifying fury that earned him his moniker as Crimson Rain Sought Flower. Whoever has dared to bring chaos into Ghost City today has only however long it'll take for Hua Cheng to get to them to live.
It would be entertaining to watch, He Xuan thinks. Hua Cheng is a vision when he's feral and angry.
He Xuan lifts the arm Xie Lian is sleeping on and cups the back of the god's head. Something like fondness rises in his chest just behind his ribs, a gentle and warm feeling that is too new to accept easily.
"Go," he tells Hua Cheng without looking away from Xie Lian. "I'll be here with him. We will wait."
Hua Cheng's expression turns stormy for a moment. He Xuan sees him hesitating, torn between wanting to stay and between having to leave to keep his city somewhat under control. In the end, Hua Cheng heaves a breath he doesn't need and gets up.
"I'll be quick," Hua Cheng says quietly.
He Xuan doesn't tell him to be safe because it's not necessary. There's nothing in the three realms that could harm Hua Cheng and it's a good thing to be certain of that.
He Xuan allows himself a smile. It feels foreign to him to smile, but it comes easily.
He is warm. He's in a room he's familiar with by now, a room decorated with far too much red and with shimmering silver butterflies resting on the furniture, their wings opening and closing in slow motions.
It's mesmerizing to watch and so he watches it until he's lulled back to sleep, Xie Lian warm by his side.